Julius Cheeks
| Julius "June" Cheeks | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 7, 1929 |
| Origin | Spartanburg, South Carolina |
| Died | January 27, 1981 (aged 51) |
| Genres | Gospel music |
| Associated acts | Baronets, Nightingales, Soul Stirrers, Mighty Clouds of Joy |
Rev. Julius "June" Cheeks (August 7, 1929 – January 27, 1981) was an American gospel singer, who enjoyed the majority of his success with The Sensational Nightingales.[1]
Biography
In 1954 he became a preacher but continued performing full-time until 1960.
Musical career
Cheeks began singing in the second grade, quitting school to pick cotton and work service stations.[2] He joined a local gospel group dubbed the Baronets and in 1946 he was spotted by the Rev. B.L. Parks, a former Dixie Hummingbird and tapped to join a group called the Nightingales. At the height of their popularity they cut several sides for Decca Records.
To make ends meet Cheeks briefly joined the Soul Stirrers, rejoining the Nightingales during the early 1950s. During the 1950s, the Nightingales had a number of hits including "Somewhere to Lay My Head" and "The Last Mile of the Way". Due to popularity, they rechristened themselves the Sensational Nightingales.[3]
During this time Cheeks also toured and recorded with the Mighty Clouds of Joy.[4] After going into semi-retirement in 1960, Cheeks returned to action with a new group, the Four Knights.